A female corps member identified as Lohina Bamaiyi Ajegena, also called Lovina, died on April 27, 2026, a few days after arriving at the National Youth Service Corps orientation camp in Maiduguri, Borno State.
She fell ill about six days into the orientation programme and was admitted to a hospital where she later passed away. Her death was confirmed by fellow corps members who took to Facebook to share details of the incident.
According to her colleague Augustine Pamela, the two met at a motor park while booking transport to the camp and became friends. They registered together, shared the same room and bunk space, and did everything together during the programme. When Lovina fell ill, Pamela nursed her and in the process also became sick.
Both were taken to the same hospital, but Lovina’s condition worsened. Pamela said she helped Lovina to the bathroom, fed her, cleaned her, and stayed awake at nights to monitor her. She recounted that Lovina would call out in pain, thank her after every help, and hold her hands firmly as if trying to hold onto life.
Separate reports indicate that a yet-to-be-identified female corps member also died in Maiduguri after an evening drill at the NYSC temporary orientation camp. Sources said the corps member collapsed after the drill on Monday evening, was rushed to the camp clinic and later referred to a hospital where she was confirmed dead.
A security official within the camp said the death may have been triggered by the drill, while another corps member claimed the deceased was diabetic and that her drugs were reportedly seized at the camp gate. The NYSC Public Relations Officer in the state declined to comment, saying the matter involved protocol and referred inquiries to the State Coordinator.
